"Don't move, or else I will slit your throat." Says the fire head woman pressing a dagger against Artreus' neck. "Don't turn your head and answer my questions, who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"My name is Artreus. For what I am doing here, I am trying to get to the nearest town, and maybe get some pants." This is bad, Artreus thought, he doesn't know if these are good or bad people, and if he surrenders he will be totally in their mercy, and worse, he might even get killed. Unacceptable. So he started chanting.

"Heh! Do you think I will believe such an obvious lie? Wait. What are you doing whispering like that?" The woman asked. Then she realized what he was doing. "Trying to use magic, bad move!" she then started to slice Artreus's neck.

Artreus move quickly and managed to minimize the damage, his artery was cut and blood is spraying everywhere. Normally, this meant death, but fortunately, he was already finished with his chant. "Heal!" as the warm holy light covered his body, the spraying of blood stopped and his wound closed.

"A healer?" The woman was surprised but quickly gritted her teeth, "Stop!" She then raced after Artreus who had a head start.

She is fast. Artreus thought as the gap between them is quickly shrinking. After dodging a few daggers flying his way, he started to chant once more. "Goddess of Mercy, grant me the blessing to race the winds! Acceleration!" He felt his body lighten and power surge through his legs. He quickly turned around and charged at the woman.

"Eeek! Don't come closer you pervert!" Surprised at seeing her prey suddenly attack, the woman shrieked and closed her eyes for a second. An opening that Artreus is more than willing to exploit.

Artreus quickly lunged at the woman who panicked and stabbed at him. Ducking under her attack, he grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground. "Too late for that now." He then twisted the woman's arm, soliciting a painful yelp from her and dropping her knife. Artreus quickly grabbed the knife and pressed it against her neck. "Oh, how the tables have turned. Ooof!" Sensing danger, Artreus quickly jumped back. Just in time as a large scythed through the place where he was earlier. If I was a second slower, my torso would have to say goodbye to my lower half. Artreus thought to himself as a cold sweat run down his spine.

"You okay Mimi?" The large man asked his partner.

Flinching at the pain she felt in her right arm, the woman answered. "I am fine. A dislocated shoulder is all. I will pop it right back, just wait a second." She said as she grits her teeth and forced her dislocated shoulder back to its socket. "Drogo, he's a healer, but can also fight in close quarters. Be careful."

"A healer who is also a combatant eh? Interesting." He said with a glint in his eyes. He then turned towards the injured woman. "Just lie down for a second. I will handle this." The man said. Plunging his sword into the ground, he called Artreus. "How about you lay down your arms stranger so that we could talk."

"Why should I? Your companion slit my throat just a moment ago." Artreus said, not daring to lower his dagger. He could feel that the man before him is strong. Even in a relaxed position, he couldn't find an opening, and while he is now armed, the dagger in his arm is only 15 cm long. He is against a man a head taller than him, with a weapon 10 times longer to boot. To close the gap, he must buff himself. So he started chanting once more.

Drogo gave a pointed stare at the woman who quickly defended himself. "What do you want me to do? He was alone deep inside the forest and naked at that. He is clearly a suspicious person. I tried to capture him but he resisted so I was forced to act."

Giving a short huff after hearing her explanation, the warrior faced Artreus once more. "We will discuss this later. For now, let me handle this alone." Patiently waiting at the chanting Artreus, after a few minutes of successive buffs, he smiled and asked. "Is there no way for us to just talk about this?"

"I would love to. But seeing that you were kind enough to let me buff myself and the expression on your face, you are clearly itching for a fight." Artreus then settled for a stance, and even though he was holding a dagger, his stance was for that of a sword.

"Is it that obvious?" The man laughed. "While it is a little weird fighting a naked man, I sense that you are strong. It has been a while. I hope you don't disappoint."

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"Right back at you." Without missing a beat, both of them charged at each other. Knowing that he is at a disadvantage in reach, Artreus thought of a technique to bridge the gap. "Bestow upon my weapon the light that can cut apart the darkness! Blade of Light!" A blade of light suddenly extended from the dagger and with a swing, even the ground was split in two.

But his opponent saw it a mile away and dodged. "Heh! Only a kid would get hit by that, with that long chant like that." He then swung his greatsword at Artreus with so much force that he could hear the wind get sliced apart.

"Protection from harm. Materialize, Barrier!" He used a quick chant to raise a barrier, but a quick chant is no way as powerful as a spell created by a proper incantation, so the barrier fell apart with just a single hit from the great sword. Seeing how his barrier failed, he then angled his dagger and parried the attack away from his body. But as soon as he did, a fist was planted firmly in his gut and he was flung against a tree.

"Focus too much on my weapon and this will happen." The warrior smiled at the sight of Artreus slowly getting to his feet and getting into a stance. "I know you wouldn't go down in one attack. Ready yourself!" With a roar, he rushes towards Artreus once more.

I must not get hit by that once more. I don't know if my body in its current condition would be able to handle it, but I don't have a choice. I must use that! Focusing his life energy to envelop his body and fill his limbs to the brim with strength, raising both his offense and defense. Aura! Using all the strength he could muster, he lunged towards the charging warrior headfirst.

"Heh! So you have an ace on your sleeve eh? Let me test it! Rock splitting slash!" An immense amount of mana flows towards the sword as the large man swung it at Artreus, aiming to cut him in half vertically.

Seeing the killing blow, Artreus focused his Aura to his left foot, using it to jump to the side and dodge the attack which cleaves the ground with 5 deep slash marks. Just as I thought. My body is not strong enough to use this technique to its fullest potential. Artreus thought as blood spurts from his left leg. Blood vessels popped and muscles were torn from the explosive power he focused on his left leg. But it is not over yet. He focused his Aura on his right leg and used to charge at the man at full speed. He could feel his muscles tearing and bones breaking, but he didn't care as he finally got close enough to strike. "Take this!" Artreus roared as he directed the point of his dagger at the exposed neck of the warrior. But… The dagger couldn't pierce his skin. "What's this?!"

"Heh! To think that someone not from our tribe knows how to use Aura." Grabbing the dagger's blade with his bare hand without getting cut, his overpowering Aura covering his entire body protecting him from harm, the warrior chuckled. "Tell me. Where did you learn our technique?"

I see. So this is why he has this familiar feeling when he is fighting this warrior. It was like facing against Devin. "A friend taught it to me long ago," Artreus told him.

"Is that so? Heh! Lower your weapon boy and heal your wounds. Then we will talk." The warrior said before sheathing his greatsword. Seemingly sensing Artreus' uncertainty, he continued. "Don't worry. We will not harm you. Here. Wear this." He threw a cloak at Artreus. "A warrior must not walk around in the nude. We have a maiden here after all."

"Erm… Thanks." Artreus grabbed the cloak before falling to the ground as he couldn't stand anymore due to his injured legs. Chanting a healing spell, his broken bones mend and his wounds closed. Seeing that this man is not taking advantage of his inability to move at the moment, Artreus feels that he could trust him. At least for the moment.

Watching him with a satisfied look on his face, the warrior suddenly spoke. "Not only can you use support and healing spells, but you can also use Aura. What a formidable combination. Too bad your body couldn't handle it."

"Nothing that training couldn't fix," Artreus replied. Back in the Void Plains, he could use both buffs and Aura with no problem. Although in the last battle against the demon lord, he admits that he pushed his body to the limit, causing him to self-destruct. That is why this is good. Now he knows his body's current limit. It would be bad if he kills himself before he could finish his mission, whatever it is.

"Haha! Said like a true warrior! No wonder a brethren taught you our technique. By the way, could you tell me the name of the one who taught you Aura? It is not every day I encounter someone who knows that technique." The large man asked.

Artreus thought hard if he should tell the truth or not, then he remembered that out of everything, Devin hated being lied upon the most, and that man always finds out, like he has some kind of sense that someone is lying. So, just to be safe, Artreus decided to tell the truth. "His name was Devin, and as you would've surmised, he was also a barbarian, just like you. He taught it to me a long time ago, when we were fighting side by side." He said. Although he answered the question, Artreus purposely left some details out, not knowing how they will react if he told them that he was one of the Paladins that sealed the Portal and was revived once more.

"Devin eh? A common name was given by the people in our lands in hope that their children would inherit even a fraction of the might of the great Devastator." The man said, taking a seat in one of the trees that fell in their battle.

"This is no time for a chat! First, we want to know is that who are you, and what are you doing here?" The red-haired woman barged in with a dagger in hand, but her companion stopped her from coming too close to Artreus.

Sighing at the hotheadedness of the woman, he replied. "I told you before you slit my throat, my name is Artreus. For how I got here, I don't know. When I woke up, I just found myself in the middle of the forest with nothing on my name." From the answer of the warrior, it seems like a long time has passed since they sealed the portal. Since Artreus doesn't have any knowledge of the current world, it is wiser to lay it out that he doesn't know anything than feigning knowledge.

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This again? What did I tell you Drogo? This man is not willing, to tell the truth. We should capture him and interrogate him." The woman suggested.

"I haven't told a lie. Even if you interrogate me my answer will stay the same." Artreus knows that if it comes to battle, he doesn't have any chance of winning, and even if he tries to run away, he could easily get captured at his current level. So instead of fighting, he chose to depend on the righteousness of the warrior. For if he is like Devin, he would listen.

Drogo studies me with a scrutinizing look. Then placing a hand on his companion's shoulder, "It's ok Mimi. I think he is telling the truth."

"Oh. You got to be kidding me?" the woman said in frustration.

"Micaela." Upon hearing Drogo say her name, the woman became quiet. "Do you trust me?" He asked.

"Of course I do. You know that." She said with a sigh.

"Then trust my judgment. Don't worry. I believe he hasn't said a lie." Drogo told her to calm her down. Then, turning towards Artreus. "I am sorry about that Artreus. I hope we can start over again."

"No worries," Artreus answered.

"That is good to hear." Drogo then stood up. "You told us a part of your story, so we are going to tell ours."